Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Adverbs
FORM
[adjective + ly]
USE 1
Examples:
USE 2
Examples:
USE 3
Examples:
There are many different adjective endings including "-ive," "-ous," "-y," "-ful,"
"-ent" and many others. "Attractive," "envious," "lazy," "beautiful," and "intelligent"
are all adjectives.
USE 1
Examples:
USE 2
Examples:
• Max is tall.
• Sandra seems mad.
Linking Verbs
LIST
o to appear o to prove
o to be o to remain
o to become o to seem
o to feel o to smell
o to get o to sound
o to go o to stay
o to grow o to taste
o to look o to turn
USE
The linking verbs above are often followed by adjectives instead of adverbs. In
such situations, the adjective describes the subject of the sentence rather than
the verb. Study the examples below to learn the difference.
Examples:
IMPORTANT
The verbs in the list above are not always used as linking verbs. Compare the
examples below.
Examples:
Examples:
PLACEMENT
Examples:
• I am also Canadian.
• I was also there.
With verbs other than "to be," "also" comes before single verb forms.
Examples:
• I also sing.
• He also helped us.
In verb tenses with many parts, "also" comes after the first part and before the
second.
Examples:
Similarly, since modal verbs are usually followed by a second verb, "also" comes
after modal verbs.
Examples:
"Too" is used in positive sentences to add an agreeing thought. It has the same
meaning as "also," but its placement within the sentence is different.
Examples:
PLACEMENT
Examples:
• I am Canadian too.
• I can speak French too.
• I am studying economics too.
• If he wants to go too, he should meet us at 8:00.
IMPORTANT
Although "too" is usually placed at the end of a clause, it can sometimes be used
with commas after the subject of the sentence. This is usually only done in formal
speech.
Examples:
• Mr. Jones wanted the contract. Ms. Jackson, too, thought it was
necessary.
• Donna is working on a solution to the problem. I, too, am trying to find a
way to resolve the conflict.
Either
USE
PLACEMENT
Examples:
Confusing Sentences
Sometimes the first sentence is negative and the agreeing idea is positive.
Examples:
• The weather wasn't very appealing. I also wanted to stay home and
finish my book. That's why I didn't go to the beach.
• The car wasn't expensive, and I needed a way to get around town too.
That's why I bought it.
Sometimes the first sentence is positive and the agreeing idea is negative.
Examples:
• Jane is too short. She is not a good athlete either. I don't think she
would make a good basketball player.
• He is lazy. He doesn't study either. That's why he doesn't do well in
school.
Even
The following is a mini-tutorial on the various uses of the word "even." After you
have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you already know
how to use "even," you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises.
USE
Examples:
"Even" can be combined with the words "though," "when" and "if." It emphasizes
that a result is unexpected. Study the following examples and explanations to
learn how these expressions differ.
Examples:
• Even though Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.
BOB ALWAYS STUDIED HARD. BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, HE FAILED THE TESTS.
• Even when Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.
BOB OCCASSIONALLY STUDIED HARD, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. EVERY TIME HE STUDIED,
HE STILL FAILED.
• Even if Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.
BOB DIDN'T NORMALLY STUDY VERY HARD. BUT IN THE RARE SITUATION WHEN HE DID TRY TO STUDY HARD,
HE STILL FAILED THE TEST.
• Jerry is never happy. Even though you do everything his way, he is still
dissatisfied.
YOU DO EVERYTHING HIS WAY, BUT HE IS STILL DISSATISFIED.
• Jerry is never happy. Even when you do everything his way, he is still
dissatisfied.
YOU SOMETIMES TRY DOING THINGS HIS WAY, BUT HE IS STILL DISSATISFIED.
• Jerry is never happy. Even if you do everything his way, he is still
dissatisfied.
YOU HAVE TRIED DOING THINGS HIS WAY ONCE OR TWICE , BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE BECAUSE HE IS
STILL DISSATISFIED.
IMPORTANT
These expressions are not always interchangeable; the context of the sentence
will affect your choice:
Examples:
• Even though the interview went terribly yesterday, Cheryl got the job.
Correct
THE INTERVIEW WENT TERRIBLY, BUT SHE GOT THE JOB.
• Even when the interview went terribly yesterday, Cheryl got the job. Not
Correct
THIS SENTENCE IS INCORRECT BECAUSE THE INTERVIEW DID NOT GO TERRIBLY MORE THAN ONE TIME. THERE
WAS ONLY ONE INTERVIEW SO "WHEN" IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD FOR THIS SENTENCE.
• Even if the interview went terribly yesterday, Cheryl got the job. Correct
YOU HAVE NOT TALKED TO CHERYL SINCE HER INTERVIEW. YOU IMAGINE THAT THE INTERVIEW WENT
TERRIBLY, BUT YOU THINK SHE PROBABLY GOT THE JOB ANYWAY.
• Even though he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money
to pay off his debt. Not Correct
THIS SENTENCE WOULD SUGGEST THAT HE ALWAYS WINS THE LOTTERY.
• Even when he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to
pay off his debt. Not Correct
THIS SENTENCE WOULD SUGGEST THAT HE SOMETIMES WINS THE LOTTERY JACKPOT.
• Even if he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to pay
off his debt. Correct
THERE IS A CHANCE IN A MILLION THAT HE MIGHT WIN THE LOTTERY JACKPOT, BUT IT WOULDN'T MAKE ANY
DIFFERENCE BECAUSE HE STILL WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY OFF HIS DEBT.
REMEMBER
The meaning and context of the sentence is very important when deciding
whether to use "even though," "even when" or "even if."
Even So
USE
"Even so" is very much like the word "but" or "however." "Even so" is different in
that it is used with surprising or unexpected results.
Examples:
Let
FORM
USE
Examples:
Make
FORM
USE
Have
FORM
USE
Examples:
Get
FORM
USE
Examples:
• Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible.
• How can parents get their children to read more?
• The government TV commercials are trying to get people to stop
smoking.
Examples:
So / Such
The following is a mini-tutorial on the use of "so" and "such." After you have
studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you already know how
to use "so" and "such," you can skip the explanation and go directly to the
exercises.
So + Adjective
USE
"So" can be combined with adjectives to show extremes. This form is often used
in exclamations.
Examples:
The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes which lead to
certain results. The "that" is usually optional.
Examples:
"So" can be combined with adverbs to show extreme actions. This form is often
used in exclamations.
Examples:
The above form can be combined with "that" to show extreme actions which lead
to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.
Examples:
"So" can be combined with "many" or "few" plus a plural noun to show extremes
in amount. This form is often used in exclamations.
Examples:
The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes in amount which
lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.
Examples:
• I never knew you had so many brothers that you had to share a
bedroom.
• I never knew you had so many brothers you had to share a bedroom.
• She has so few friends that she rarely gets out of the house.
• She has so few friends she rarely gets out of the house.
"So" can be combined with "much" or "little" plus a non-countable noun to show
extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations.
Examples:
• Jake earns so much money! And he still has trouble paying the rent.
• They have so little food! We need to do something to help them.
The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes in amount which
lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.
Examples:
• Jake earns so much money that he has lost all sense of what a dollar
is worth.
• Jake earns so much money he has lost all sense of what a dollar is
worth.
• They have so little food that they are starving to death.
• They have so little food they are starving to death.
"So" can be combined with words like "much," "little," "often," or "rarely" to
describe how much or how often someone does an action. This form is often
used in exclamations.
Examples:
The above form can be combined with "that" to show the results of extreme
actions. The "that" is usually optional.
Examples:
"Such" can be combined with an adjective and a noun to show extremes. This
form is often used in exclamations.
Examples:
The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes which lead to
certain results. The "that" is usually optional.
Examples:
• Don has such a big house that I actually got lost on the way to the
bathroom.
• Don has such a big house I actually got lost on the way to the
bathroom.
• Shelly has such beautiful eyes that she got a job as a make-up model.
• Shelly has such beautiful eyes she got a job as a make-up model.
NOTE
Examples:
"Such" can also be combined with judgemental nouns for emphasis. This form is
often used in exclamations.
Examples:
The above form can be combined with "that" to show certain results. The "that" is
usually optional.
Examples:
"Such" can also mean "this type of..." or "that type of..."
Examples:
• The archeologist had never seen such writing before he discovered the
tablet.
THIS/THAT TYPE OF WRITING
Subjunctive
The following is a mini-tutorial on the use of the Subjunctive. After you have
studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you already know how
to use this verb form, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the
exercises.
FORM
Use the simple form of the verb. The simple form is the infinitive without the "to."
The simple form of the verb "to go" is "go." The Subjunctive is only noticeable in
certain forms and tenses.
USE
Examples:
NOTICE
The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses. In the examples
below, the Subjunctive is not noticeable in the you-form of the verb, but it is
noticeable in the he-form of the verb.
Examples:
to advise (that)
to ask (that)
to command (that)
to demand (that)
to desire (that)
to insist (that)
to propose (that)
to recommend (that)
to request (that)
to suggest (that)
to urge (that)
Examples:
• Dr. Smith asked that Mark submit his research paper before the end of
the month.
• Donna requested Frank come to the party.
• The teacher insists that her students be on time.
It is best (that)
It is crucial (that)
It is desirable (that)
It is essential (that)
It is imperative (that)
It is important (that)
It is recommended (that)
It is urgent (that)
It is vital (that)
It is a good idea (that)
It is a bad idea (that)
Examples:
Negative Examples:
Passive Examples:
Continuous Examples:
• It is important that you be standing there when he gets off the plane.
• It is crucial that a car be waiting for the boss when the meeting is over.
• I propose that we all be waiting in Tim's apartment when he gets home.
Should as Subjunctive
After many of the above expressions, the word "should" is sometimes used to
express the idea of subjunctiveness. This form is used more frequently in British
English and is most common after the verbs "suggest," "recommend" and "insist."
Examples:
• The doctor recommended that she should see a specialist about the
problem.
• Professor William suggested that Wilma should study harder for the
final exam.
Subjects do an action:
• He loves movies.
• She goes to school.
• We enjoy Chinese food.
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Such sentences usually start with a phrase such as: "I am not sure" or "He
doesn't know" or "We don't care." Just ignore the first part of the sentence and
look at the indirect question when deciding whether to use "who," "whom" or
"whose." Ask yourself if the indirect question requires a subject, object, or
possessive form.
Examples:
• He doesn't know who the boss of the company is. SUBJECT OF THE INDIRECT
QUESTION
Adjective clauses are used to describe a noun in the main sentence. In the
example above, the adjective clause tells us about "the man." Just ignore the
main sentence and look at the adjective clause when deciding whether to use
"who," "whom" or "whose." Ask yourself if the adjective clause requires a subject,
object, or possessive form.
Examples:
• We knew the actress who starred in the movie. SUBJECT OF ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
• They hired the man whom we interviewed last week. OBJECT OF ADJECTIVE
CLAUSE
• She knew the family whose house we bought. "WHOSE" SHOWS POSSESSION OF
HOUSE.
Examples:
Types of Verbs
Before you begin the verb tense lessons, it is extremely important to
understand that NOT all English verbs are the same. English verbs are divided
into three groups: Normal Verbs, Non-Continuous Verbs, and Mixed Verbs.
Most verbs are "Normal Verbs." These verbs are usually physical actions which
you can see somebody doing. These verbs can be used in all tenses.
Normal Verbs
Examples:
The second group, called "Non-Continuous Verbs," is smaller. These verbs are
usually things you cannot see somebody doing. These verbs are rarely used in
continuous tenses. They include:
Abstract Verbs
Possession Verbs
Emotion Verbs
Examples:
• He is needing help now. Not Correct
• He needs help now. Correct
• He is wanting a drink now. Not Correct
• He wants a drink now. Correct
The third group, called "Mixed Verbs," is the smallest group. These verbs have
more than one meaning. In a way, each meaning is a unique verb. Some
meanings behave like "Non-Continuous Verbs," while other meanings behave
like "Normal Verbs."
Mixed Verbs
to appear:
to have:
to hear:
to look:
to miss:
to see:
to smell:
to taste:
to think:
to weigh:
to be:
NOTICE: Only rarely is "to be" used in a continuous form. This is most commonly
done when a person is temporarily behaving badly or stereotypically. It can also
be used when someone's behavior is noticeably different.
to feel:
NOTICE: The second meaning of "feel" is very flexible and there is no real
difference in meaning between "I don't feel well today" and "I am not feeling well
today."
Active Form
In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and
the thing receiving the action is the object. Most sentences are active.
Passive Form
In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence
and the thing doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence.
You can use the passive form if you think that the thing receiving the action is
more important or should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if
you do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is
doing the action.
[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing
action]
Examples:
Active Passive
Present Right now, Sarah is writing Right now, the letter is being
Continuous the letter. written by Sarah.
Simple Past Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.
Present Many tourists have visited That castle has been visited
Perfect that castle. by many tourists.
Present Recently, John has been Recently, the work has been
Perfect doing the work. being done by John.
Continuous
Past Perfect George had repaired many Many cars had been repaired
cars before he received his by George before he received
mechanic's license. his mechanic's license.
Simple Future Someone will finish the The work will be finished by
WILL work by 5:00 PM. 5:00 PM.
Future Perfect They will have completed The project will have been
WILL the project before the completed before the deadline.
deadline.
Future Perfect They are going to have The project is going to have
BE GOING TO completed the project before been completed before the
the deadline. deadline.
Future Perfect The famous artist will have The mural will have been
Continuous been painting the mural for being painted by the famous
WILL over six months by the time it artist for over six months by the
is finished. time it is finished.
Future Perfect The famous artist is going to The mural is going to have
Continuous have been painting the been being painted by the
BE GOING TO mural for over six months by famous artist for over six
the time it is finished. months by the time it is
finished.
Used to Jerry used to pay the bills. The bills used to be paid by
Jerry.
Future in the I knew John would finish the I knew the work would be
Past work by 5:00 PM. finished by 5:00 PM.
WOULD
Future in the I thought Sally was going to I thought a beautiful dinner was
Past make a beautiful dinner going to be made by Sally
WAS GOING TO tonight. tonight.
Simple Present
FORM
Examples:
Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual.
The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or
something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or
usually does not do.
Examples:
• I play tennis.
• She does not play tennis.
• Does he play tennis?
• The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
• The train does not leave at 9 AM.
• When does the train usually leave?
• She always forgets her purse.
• He never forgets his wallet.
• Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
• Does the Sun circle the Earth?
The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true
before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker
is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or
things.
Examples:
Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the
near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public
transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.
Examples:
Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is
happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous
Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.
Examples:
• I am here now.
• She is not here now.
• He needs help right now.
• He does not need help now.
• He has his passport in his hand.
• Do you have your passport with you?
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Present Continuous
FORM
Examples:
USE 1 Now
Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that
something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show
that something is not happening now.
Examples:
In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this
century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we
are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we
might not be doing it at this exact second.
Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will
or will not happen in the near future.
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Simple Past
FORM
Examples:
Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a
specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the
specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.
Examples:
Examples:
• I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
• He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and
met the others at 10:00.
• Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?
The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past.
A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two
years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.
Examples:
The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past.
It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking
about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never,
when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.
Examples:
The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which
are no longer true. As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar
to the expression "used to."
Examples:
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are often not complete
sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when I dropped
my pen..." or "when class began..." These clauses are called when-clauses, and
they are very important. The examples below contain when-clauses.
Examples:
When-clauses are important because they always happen first when both
clauses are in the Simple Past. Both of the examples above mean the same
thing: first, I paid her one dollar, and then, she answered my question. It is not
important whether "when I paid her one dollar" is at the beginning of the
sentence or at the end of the sentence. However, the example below has a
different meaning. First, she answered my question, and then, I paid her one
dollar.
Example:
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Past Continuous
FORM
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or
finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples:
• Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
I STARTED EATING AT 6 PM.
• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I STARTED EARLIER; AND AT 6 PM, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EATING DINNER.
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it
expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The
actions are parallel.
Examples:
USE 4 Atmosphere
Example:
• When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some
were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and
customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a
secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each
other about the bad service.
Examples:
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete
sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when she called"
or "when it bit me." Other clauses begin with "while" such as "while she was
sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When you talk about things in the past,
"when" is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas "while" is
usually followed by Past Continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during that
time." Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they
emphasize different parts of the sentence.
Examples:
Examples:
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
• The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the
store. ACTIVE
• The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came
into the store. PASSIVE
Present Perfect
FORM
Examples:
TOPIC 1 Experience
You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I
have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never
had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific
event.
Examples:
Examples:
TOPIC 3 Accomplishments
We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and
humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.
Examples:
We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has
not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the
action to happen.
Examples:
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which
have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the
process is not complete and more actions are possible.
Examples:
When we use the Present Perfect it means that something has happened at
some point in our lives before now. Remember, the exact time the action
happened is not important.
Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can
do this with expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this
month, so far, up to now, etc.
Examples:
NOTICE
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means
the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requires Simple
Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a
specific time, so it requires Present Perfect.
Examples:
• I went to Mexico last year.
I WENT TO MEXICO IN THE CALENDAR YEAR BEFORE THIS ONE.
• I have been to Mexico in the last year.
I HAVE BEEN TO MEXICO AT LEAST ONCE AT SOME POINT BETWEEN 365 DAYS AGO AND NOW.
Examples:
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Examples:
We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the
past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and
"since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect
Continuous.
Examples:
You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as
"for two weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of
"lately." We often use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.
Examples:
IMPORTANT
Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has the meaning of "lately" or
"recently." If you use the Present Perfect Continuous in a question such as "Have
you been feeling alright?", it can suggest that the person looks sick or unhealthy.
A question such as "Have you been smoking?" can suggest that you smell the
smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests you can see,
smell, hear or feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult someone by
using this tense incorrectly.
Examples:
• Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct
• Sam has had his car for two years. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
NOTE: Present Perfect Continuous is less commonly used in its passive form.
Past Perfect
FORM
Examples:
The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another
action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific
time in the past.
Examples:
Examples:
• We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
• By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over
eight years.
• They felt bad about selling the house because they had owned it for
more than forty years.
Although the above use of Past Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous
Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach,"
and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-
Continuous Verbs.
Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or
phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not
necessary.
Example:
• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved
in with them in 1996.
MOREOVER
If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be
used instead of the Past Perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the sentence.
The words "before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first, so the Past
Perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are correct.
Examples:
• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved
in with them in 1996.
• She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in
with them in 1996.
HOWEVER
If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, Past Perfect is
not optional. Compare the examples below. Here Past Perfect is referring to a
lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason,
Simple Past cannot be used.
Examples:
• She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
• She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
• You had previously studied English before you moved to New York.
• Had you previously studied English before you moved to New York?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Examples:
• You had been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally
arrived.
• Had you been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally
arrived?
• You had not been waiting there for more than two hours when she
finally arrived.
We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past
and continued up until another time in the past. "For five minutes" and "for two
weeks" are both durations which can be used with the Past Perfect Continuous.
Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the
duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.
Examples:
• They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
• She had been working at that company for three years when it went out
of business.
• How long had you been waiting to get on the bus?
• Mike wanted to sit down because he had been standing all day at work.
• James had been teaching at the university for more than a year before
he left for Asia.
• A: How long had you been studying Turkish before you moved to
Ankara?
B: I had not been studying Turkish very long.
Examples:
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or
"since Friday," many English speakers choose to use the Past Continuous rather
than the Past Perfect Continuous. Be careful because this can change the
meaning of the sentence. Past Continuous emphasizes interrupted actions,
whereas Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before
something in the past. Study the examples below to understand the difference.
Examples:
Examples:
• The motorcycle had been belonging to George for years before Tina
bought it. Not Correct
• The motorcycle had belonged to George for years before Tina bought it.
Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
• You had only been waiting there for a few minutes when she arrived.
• Had you only been waiting there for a few minutes when she arrived?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
• Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for
two years before he moved to Paris. ACTIVE
• The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef
Jones for two years before he moved to Paris. PASSIVE
NOTE: Passive forms of the Past Perfect Continuous are not common.
Simple Future
Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to."
Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often
express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too
abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear.
Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.
FORM Will
[will + verb]
Examples:
FORM Be Going To
Examples:
Examples:
"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a
person intends to do something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan
is realistic or not.
Examples:
Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about
the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In
"prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and
therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is no
difference in meaning.
Examples:
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind.
Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.
Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with
time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if,
unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is used.
Examples:
• When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct
• When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Future Continuous
Future Continuous has two different forms: "will be doing " and "be going to
be doing." Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Continuous forms are usually
interchangeable.
Examples:
• You will be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
• Will you be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?
• You will not be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
Examples:
• You are going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
• Are you going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?
• You are not going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
REMEMBER: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the
Future Continuous with little difference in meaning.
Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be
interrupted by a shorter action in the future. Remember this can be a real
interruption or just an interruption in time.
Examples:
Examples:
REMEMBER
In the Simple Future, a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin
or end. In the Future Continuous, a specific time interrupts the action.
Examples:
When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it
expresses the idea that both actions will be happening at the same time. The
actions are parallel.
Examples:
Example:
Like all future tenses, the Future Continuous cannot be used in clauses
beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time,
as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Continuous, Present Continuous is
used.
Examples:
Examples:
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
• You will still be waiting for her when her plane arrives.
• Will you still be waiting for her when her plane arrives?
• You are still going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives.
• Are you still going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Future Perfect
Future Perfect has two different forms: "will have done" and "be going to
have done." Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Perfect forms are usually
interchangeable.
Examples:
• You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from
the U.S.
• Will you have perfected your English by the time you come back from
the U.S.?
• You will not have perfected your English by the time you come back
from the U.S.
Examples:
• You are going to have perfected your English by the time you come
back from the U.S.
• Are you going to have perfected your English by the time you come
back from the U.S.?
• You are not going to have perfected your English by the time you
come back from the U.S.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future
Perfect with little or no difference in meaning.
The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another
action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific
time in the future.
Examples:
Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in
Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because the interruptions are
in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous
Verbs)
Examples:
• I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
• By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with
time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if,
unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect, Present Perfect is used.
Examples:
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
Examples:
• They will have completed the project before the deadline. ACTIVE
• The project will have been completed before the deadline. PASSIVE
• They are going to have completed the project before the deadline.
ACTIVE
• The project is going to have been completed before the deadline.
PASSIVE
Examples:
• You will have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane
finally arrives.
• Will you have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane
finally arrives?
• You will not have been waiting for more than two hours when her
plane finally arrives.
Examples:
• You are going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her
plane finally arrives.
• Are you going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her
plane finally arrives?
• You are not going to have been waiting for more than two hours when
her plane finally arrives.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future
Perfect Continuous with little or no difference in meaning.
We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up
until a particular event or time in the future. "For five minutes," "for two weeks,"
and "since Friday" are all durations which can be used with the Future Perfect
Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous and the
Past Perfect Continuous; however, with Future Perfect Continuous, the duration
stops at or before a reference point in the future.
Examples:
• They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Thomas
arrives.
• She is going to have been working at that company for three years
when it finally closes.
• James will have been teaching at the university for more than a year
by the time he leaves for Asia.
• How long will you have been studying when you graduate?
• We are going to have been driving for over three days straight when
we get to Anchorage.
• A: When you finish your English course, will you have been living in
New Zealand for over a year?
B: No, I will not have been living here that long.
Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in
Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because these future events
are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.
Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another action in the future is a good
way to show cause and effect.
Examples:
• Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been
jogging for over an hour.
• Claudia's English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because
she is going to have been studying English in the United States for
over two years.
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or
"since Friday," many English speakers choose to use the Future Continuous
rather than the Future Perfect Continuous. Be careful because this can change
the meaning of the sentence. Future Continuous emphasizes interrupted actions,
whereas Future Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before
something in the future. Study the examples below to understand the difference.
Examples:
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect Continuous cannot be used in clauses
beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time,
as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect Continuous, Present Perfect
Continuous is used.
Examples:
• You won't get a promotion until you will have been working here as
long as Tim. Not Correct
• You won't get a promotion until you have been working here as long as
Tim. Correct
Examples:
• Ned will have been having his driver's license for over two years. Not
Correct
• Ned will have had his driver's license for over two years. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
• You will only have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane
arrives.
• Will you only have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane
arrives?
• You are only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when her
plane arrives.
• Are you only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when her
plane arrives?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
• The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months
by the time it is finished. ACTIVE
• The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over
six months by the time it is finished. PASSIVE
• The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six
months by the time it is finished. ACTIVE
• The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous artist
for over six months by the time it is finished. PASSIVE
NOTE: Passive forms of the Future Perfect Continuous are not common.
Used To
FORM
[used to + VERB]
Example:
It is better not to use "used to" in questions or negative forms; however, this is
sometimes done in informal spoken English. It is better to ask questions and
create negative sentences using Simple Past.
"Used to" expresses the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the
past. It indicates that something was often repeated in the past, but it is not
usually done now.
Examples:
"Used to" can also be used to talk about past facts or generalizations which are
no longer true.
Examples:
Both Simple Past and "Used to" can be used to describe past habits, past facts
and past generalizations; however, "used to" is preferred when emphasizing
these forms of past repetition in positive sentences. On the other hand, when
asking questions or making negative sentences, Simple Past is preferred.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Would Always
FORM
Examples:
• You would always take your surfboard with you when you went to the
beach.
• Would you always take your surfboard with you when you went to the
beach?
• You would not always take your surfboard with you when you went to
the beach.
Examples:
"Would always" is not exactly the same as "used to" or the Simple Past. "Would
always" cannot be used to talk about past facts or generalizations. It can only be
used for repeated actions.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
FORM Would
[would + VERB]
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Like all future forms, Future in the Past cannot be used in clauses beginning with
time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if,
unless, etc. Instead of using Future in the Past, you must use Simple Past.
Examples:
• I already told Mark that when he would arrive, we would go out for
dinner. Not Correct
• I already told Mark that when he arrived, we would go out for dinner.
Correct
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Conditional Tutorial
There are two kinds of conditional sentences: real and unreal. Real Conditional
describes real-life situations. Unreal Conditional describes unreal, imaginary
situations. Although the various conditional forms might seem quite abstract at
first, they are actually some of the most useful structures in English and are
commonly included in daily conversations.
Present Conditionals
[If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Present ...]
USE
The Present Real Conditional is used to talk about what you normally do in real-
life situations.
Examples:
IMPORTANT If / When
Both "if" and "when" are used in the Present Real Conditional. Using "if" suggests
that something happens less frequently. Using "when" suggests that something
happens regularly.
Examples:
USE
The Present Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you would generally
do in imaginary situations.
Examples:
Examples:
Only the word "if" is used with the Present Unreal Conditional because you are
discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.
Examples:
There are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:
The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would." Instead, they
must be used in these special forms.
Examples:
The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include conditional, so you
cannot combine them with "would."
Examples:
• If I had more time, I would could exercise after work. Not Correct
• If I had more time, I could exercise after work. Correct
• If he invited you, you really would should go. Not Correct
• If he invited you, you really should go. Correct
Past Conditionals
[If / When ... Simple Past ..., ... Simple Past ...]
USE
The Past Real Conditional describes what you used to do in particular real-life
situations. It suggests that your habits have changed and you do not usually do
these things today.
Examples:
• If I went to a friend's house for dinner, I usually took a bottle of wine or
some flowers. I don't do that anymore.
• When I had a day off from work, I often went to the beach. Now, I never
get time off.
• If the weather was nice, she often walked to work. Now, she usually
drives.
• Jerry always helped me with my homework when he had time. But he
doesn't do that anymore.
• A: What did you usually do when it rained?
B: I usually stayed at home.
IMPORTANT Used to
The form "used to" expresses the idea that something was an old habit that
stopped in the past. This form is commonly used in Past Real Conditional
sentences to emphasize that something was a habit. The examples below have
the same meaning as the examples above.
Examples:
• If I went to a friend's house for dinner, I used to take a bottle of wine or
some flowers. I don't do that anymore.
• When I had a day off from work, I used to go to the beach. Now, I never
get time off.
• If the weather was nice, she used to walk to work. Now, she usually
drives.
• Jerry used to help me with my homework when he had time. But he
doesn't do that anymore.
• A: What did you usually do when it rained?
B: I used to stay at home.
IMPORTANT If / When
Both "if" and "when" are used in the Past Real Conditional. Using "if" suggests
that something happened less frequently. Using "when" suggests that something
happened regularly.
Examples:
• When I had a day off from work, I usually went to the beach.
I REGULARLY HAD DAYS OFF FROM WORK.
• If I had a day off from work, I usually went to the beach.
I RARELY HAD DAYS OFF FROM WORK.
[If ... Past Perfect ..., ... would have + past participle ... ]
[... would have + past participle ... if ... Past Perfect ...]
USE
The Past Unreal Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the past.
You can describe what you would have done differently or how something could
have happened differently if circumstances had been different.
Examples:
• If I had owned a car, I would have driven to work. But I didn't own one,
so I took the bus.
• She would have traveled around the world if she had had more money.
But she didn't have much money, so she never traveled.
• I would have read more as a child if I hadn't watched so much TV.
Unfortunately, I did watch a lot of TV, so I never read for entertainment.
• Mary would have gotten the job and moved to Japan if she had
studied Japanese in school instead of French.
• If Jack had worked harder, he would have earned more money.
Unfortunately, he was lazy and he didn't earn much.
• A: What would you have done if you had won the lottery last week?
B: I would have bought a house.
• A: What city would you have chosen if you had decided to move to the
United States?
B: I would have chosen Seattle.
Only the word "if" is used with the Past Unreal Conditional because you are
discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.
Examples:
• I would have bought that computer when it had been cheaper. Not
Correct
• I would have bought that computer if it had been cheaper. Correct
There are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:
The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would have." Instead,
they must be used in these special forms.
Examples:
Examples:
Future Conditionals
[If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Future ...]
USE
The Future Real Conditional describes what you think you will do in a specific
situation in the future. It is different from other Real Conditional forms because,
unlike the present or the past, you do not know what will happen in the future.
Although this form is called "real", you are usually imagining or guessing about
the future. It is called "real" because it is still possible that the action might occur
in the future. Carefully study the following examples and compare them to the
Future Unreal Conditional examples further down the page.
Examples:
IMPORTANT If / When
Both "if" and "when" are used in the Future Real Conditional, but the use is
different from other Real Conditional forms. In the Future Real Conditional, "if"
suggests that you do not know if something will happen or not. "When" suggests
that something will definitely happen at some point; we are simply waiting for it to
occur. Notice also that the Simple Future is not used in if-clauses or when-
clauses.
Examples:
Notice that this form looks the same as Present Unreal Conditional.
USE
The Future Unreal Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the
future. It is not as common as the Future Real Conditional because English
speakers often leave open the possibility that anything MIGHT happen in the
future. It is only used when a speaker needs to emphasize that something is
impossible.
Examples:
• If I had a day off from work next week, I would go to the beach.
I DON'T HAVE A DAY OFF FROM WORK.
• I am busy next week. If I had time, I would come to your party.
I CAN'T COME.
• Jerry would help me with my homework tomorrow if he didn't have to
work.
HE DOES HAVE TO WORK TOMORROW.
FORM 2
[If ... were + present participle ..., ... would be + present participle ...]
[... would be + present participle ... if ... were + present participle ...]
USE
Form 2 of the Future Unreal Conditional is also used to talk about imaginary
situations in the near future. Native speakers use this form rather than Form 1 to
emphasize that the conditional form is a plan in the same way Present
Continuous can be used to indicate a plan in the near future. Also notice in the
examples below that this form can be used in the if-clause, the result, or both
parts of the sentence.
Examples:
FORM 3
[If ... were going to + verb ..., ... would be + present participle ...]
[... would be + present participle ... if ... were going to + verb ...]
USE
Only the word "if" is used with the Past Unreal Conditional because you are
discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.
Examples:
• I would buy that computer tomorrow when it were cheaper. Not Correct
• I would buy that computer tomorrow if it were cheaper. Correct
There are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:
The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would." Instead, they
must be used in these special forms.
Examples:
The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include conditional, so you
cannot combine them with "would."
Examples:
• If I didn't have to work tonight, I would could go to the fitness center.
Not Correct
• If I didn't have to work tonight, I could go to the fitness center. Correct
To help you understand the difference between the Future Real Conditional and
the Future Unreal Conditional, compare the examples below:
Examples:
• If you help me move tomorrow, I will buy you dinner. Future Real
Conditional
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME.
• If you helped me move tomorrow, I would buy you dinner. Future
Unreal Conditional
YOU CAN'T HELP ME, OR YOU DON'T WANT TO HELP ME.
Continuous Conditionals
Those of you who have studied Englishpage.com's Verb Tense Tutorial should be
familiar with continuous verb tenses such as Present Continuous, Past
Continuous, Future Continuous, Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect
Continuous, and Future Perfect Continuous. The Verb Tense Tutorial gives you
all the information you need to create continuous Real Conditional sentences.
But many English learners are not aware of the fact that we can use
continuousness in imaginary situations as well. Study the examples below to
learn how to create continuous Unreal Conditional sentences that will make you
sound like a native speaker.
USE
USE
• If I had been talking to him when he said that, I would have punched
him in the face.
BUT I WASN'T TALKING TO HIM WHEN HE SAID THAT.
• If he had been standing near the house when the wall collapsed, it
would have killed him.
LUCKILY, HE MOVED AWAY BEFORE THE WALL FELL.
• If James had been crossing the street when the car ran the red light, it
would have hit him.
• If Tom had been studying while Becky was making dinner, he would
have finished his homework early and they could have gone to the
movie.
• If James hadn't stopped to tie his shoe, he would have been crossing
the street when the car ran the red light.
• If you had gone to their house last night, Bob would have been reading
the newspaper, Nancy would have been talking on the phone and the
kids would have been watching TV. They always do the same things.
NOTICE that Past Unreal Conditional + Continuous can also be used like
Present Perfect Continuous or Past Perfect Continuous in imaginary situations to
emphasize a duration of time.
• Scott said he had been studying Greek for more than five years. If he
had been studying the language that long, I think he would have been
able to interpret for us at the airport.
• Sarah claimed she had been waiting in the rain for more than twenty
minutes by the time we arrived, but she wasn't even wet. If she had
been waiting that long, I think she would have been totally drenched by
the time we arrived.
USE
Future Unreal Conditional + Continuous can be used like the Future Continuous
in imaginary situations to emphasize interruptions or parallel actions in the future.
NOTICE The future form looks the same as the present form. The future is
indicated with words such as "tomorrow," "next week" or "in a couple of days."
• If I were waiting there next week when he gets off the plane, he would
be totally surprised.
BUT I WILL NOT BE WAITING THERE, SO HE WON'T BE SURPRISED.
• If he were staying in that hotel next week while the conference is being
held, he might be able to meet some of the key speakers and tell them
about our new product.
I DON'T THINK HE WILL BE ABLE TO STAY AT THE HOTEL, SO HE WON'T BE ABLE TO MEET ANYBODY THERE.
Mixed Conditionals
Those of you who have been following the Conditional Tutorial should now be
familiar with present, past and future conditional verb forms. Sometimes Unreal
Conditional sentences are mixed. This means that the time in the if-clause is not
the same as the time in the result. Study the examples below to learn how to mix
conditional verb forms like a native speaker.
PAST PRESENT
Examples:
PAST FUTURE
Examples:
• If she had signed up for the ski trip last week, she would be joining us
tomorrow.
BUT SHE DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THE SKI TRIP LAST WEEK AND SHE ISN'T GOING TO JOIN US TOMORROW.
• If Mark had gotten the job instead of Joe, he would be moving to
Shanghai.
BUT MARK DIDN'T GET THE JOB AND MARK IS NOT GOING TO MOVE TO SHANGHAI.
• If Darren hadn't wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas, he
would go to Mexico with us next month.
BUT DARREN WASTED HIS CHRISTMAS BONUS GAMBLING IN LAS VEGAS AND HE WON'T GO TO MEXICO WITH
US NEXT MONTH.
PRESENT PAST
Examples:
• If I were rich, I would have bought that Ferrari we saw yesterday.
BUT I AM NOT CURRENTLY RICH AND THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T BUY THE FERRARI YESTERDAY.
• If Sam spoke Russian, he would have translated the letter for you.
BUT SAM DOESN'T SPEAK RUSSIAN AND THAT IS WHY HE DIDN'T TRANSLATE THE LETTER.
• If I didn't have to work so much, I would have gone to the party last
night.
BUT I HAVE TO WORK A LOT AND THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T GO TO THE PARTY LAST NIGHT.
PRESENT FUTURE
Examples:
FUTURE PAST
Examples:
FUTURE PRESENT
Examples:
Were To
USE
"Were to" can be used in the present to emphasize that the conditional form is
extremely unlikely or unthinkably horrible. Notice that this special form is only
used in the if-clause.
Examples:
USE
"Were to" can be used in the future to emphasize that the conditional form is
extremely unlikely or unthinkably horrible. Notice that this special form is only
used in the if-clause.
Examples:
• If I were to lose my job next year, I would probably not find a new one
quickly.
LOOSING MY JOB WOULD BE TERRIBLE.
• If he were to fail his driving test tomorrow, he would have to take it
again.
HE IS NOT LIKELY TO FAIL HIS DRIVING TEST.
• If Sarah were to show up late to the birthday party, it would ruin the
surprise.
SARAH WILL SURELY COME ON TIME.
USE
"Were to" can be used in the past to emphasize that the conditional form is
extremely unlikely or unthinkably horrible. Notice that this special form is only
used in the if-clause.
Examples:
• If the fire were to have destroyed the building, it would have been a
tragic cultural loss.
THE THOUGHT OF SUCH A LOSS IS TOO HORRIBLE TO CONSIDER.
• If the dam were to have burst, the entire town would have been
destroyed.
SUCH DESTRUCTION IS TOO HORRIBLE TO CONSIDER.
• If Sarah were to have failed the final test, she would have lost her
scholarship.
SHE IS AN EXCELLENT STUDENT, AND IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT SHE WOULD HAVE FAILED THE TEST.
Examples:
Examples:
2. Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to
learn." You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the
object of a sentence.
Examples:
Examples:
3. Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of
a sentence. However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more
like normal, spoken English, whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the
following sentences, gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in
everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential for something
and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90%
of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.
Examples:
• Learning is important. normal subject
• To learn is important. abstract subject - less common
• The most important thing is learning. normal complement
• The most important thing is to learn. abstract complement - less
common
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
8. Some verbs are followed by a noun plus an infinitive. In some situations, the
noun is required. In other situations, the noun is optional
Examples:
9. Some verbs are usually followed by a gerund, BUT they can also be followed
by a noun plus infinitive. Using a noun plus infinitive will usually change who is
performing the action.
Examples:
10. There are many "go + gerund" expressions used for adventure sports and
individual recreational activities.
Examples:
11. Gerunds are used after prepositions. Most commonly, these are "verb +
preposition" combinations. You don't have to memorize these resources, you just
need to remember that gerunds are used after prepositions!
Examples:
12. Remember that there are many "adjective + preposition" combinations and
"noun + preposition" combinations in English as well. These are also followed by
gerunds. Once again, you don't have to memorize these resources, you just need
to remember that gerunds are used after prepositions!
Examples:
• Sandy is scared of flying. adjective + preposition
• Nick is anxious about taking the examination. adjective + preposition
• His interest in becoming a professional snowboarder was well known.
noun + preposition
• Thomas' story about seeing a grizzly bear was really exciting. noun +
preposition
Examples:
14. Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive with little difference
in meaning.
Examples:
Although the difference in meaning is small with these particular verbs, and
gerunds and infinitives can often be used interchangeably, there is still a meaning
difference. Using a gerund suggests that you are referring to real activities or
experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are talking about potential or
possible activities or experiences. Because of this small difference in meaning,
gerunds and infinitives cannot always be used interchangeably, such as in the
examples below.
Examples:
• The British reporter likes living in New York. He lives in New York and
he likes what he experiences there.
• The British reporter likes to live in New York whenever he works in the
United States. He likes the option or possibility of living in New York
when he works in the United States.
• I like speaking French because it's such a beautiful language. I like the
experience of speaking French, and the way it makes me feel when I
speak the language.
• I like to speak French when I'm in France. I prefer the option of
speaking French when I am in France.
15. There are many "be + adjective" combinations that are commonly followed by
infinitives.
Examples:
16. There are also many nouns that are commonly followed by infinitives.
Examples:
17. Sometimes infinitives are used to express the idea of "in order to do
something."
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
19. Verbs which indicate location can often be followed by "ING" forms. This
pattern is VERB OF LOCATION + LOCATION + VERB+ING.
Examples:
20. In addition to simple gerund and infinitive forms, there are progressive gerund
and infinitive forms, passive gerund and infinitive forms and perfect gerund and
infinitive forms as well as combinations of these forms. Progressive forms are
used to emphasize that an action is taking place now. Passive forms are used to
emphasize that the subject of the sentence is being acted upon. Perfect gerund
and infinitive forms are used to emphasize completion in both the past and the
future. Study the examples below to help understand these concepts.
GERUND FORMS INFINITIVE FORMS
Modal Forms
Modal verbs can be used in a variety of different forms. Study the examples
below.
Can
"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used
to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show
possibility or impossibility.
Examples:
Modal Use Positive Forms Negative Forms You can also use:
1. = Present 2. = 1. = Present 2. =
Past 3. = Future Past 3. = Future
Could
"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make
suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional
sentences as the conditional form of "can."
Examples:
• Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. POSSIBILITY
• Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. PAST ABILITY
• You could see a movie or go out to dinner. SUGGESTION
• Could I use your computer to email my boss? REQUEST
• We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. CONDITIONAL
could I could run ten miles in my I couldn't run more than a be able
PAST ABILITY twenties. mile in my twenties. to
NEAR FUTURE.
Examples:
• Jack might not have the key. MAYBE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY.
• Jack could not have the key. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY.
Had Better
"Had better" is most commonly used to make recommendations. It can also be
used to express desperate hope as well as warn people.
Examples:
• You had better take your umbrella with you today. RECOMMENDATION
• That bus had better get here soon! DESPERATE HOPE
• You had better watch the way you talk to me in the future! WARNING
had better The movie had better They had better not be
DESPERATE HOPE, end soon. late.
WARNING
Have To
"Have to" is used to express certainty, necessity, and obligation.
Examples:
3. NONE
have to 1. She has to read four 1. She doesn't have to read must
NECESSITY books for this literature "Grapes of Wrath." It's
class. optional reading for extra
credit.
2. She had to finish the
first book before the 2. She didn't have to write a
midterm. critique of "The Scarlet Letter."
She had to give a presentation
3. She will have to finish to her class.
the other books before the
final exam. 3. She won't have to take any
other literature classes.
American Literature 101 is the
only required course.
Examples:
Have Got To
"Have got to" is used to express necessity and obligation.
Examples:
• Drivers have got to get a license to drive a car in the US. NECESSITY
• I have got to be at work by 8:30 AM. OBLIGATION
have got 1. People have got to be 1. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO" have to,
to on time if they want to People don't have to be there
NECESSITY get a seat in the on time to get a seat. must
crowded theater.
2. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO"
2. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO" You didn't have to be there
You had to be on time if on time to get a seat.
you wanted to get a seat
in the crowded theater. 3. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO"
You won't have to be there
3. You have got to be on time to get a seat.
there on time tonight if
you want to get a seat in
the crowded theater.
May
"May" is most commonly used to express possibility. It can also be used to give
or request permission, although this usage is becoming less common.
Examples:
may 1. You may leave the table 1. You may not leave the can
GIVE now that you're finished table. You're not finished
PERMISSION
with your dinner. with your dinner yet.
3. You may leave the table 3. You may not leave the
when you finish your table until you are finished
dinner. with your dinner.
Might
"Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in
conditional sentences. English speakers can also use "might" to make
suggestions or requests, although this is less common in American English.
Examples:
Examples:
• Jack might not have the key. MAYBE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY.
• Jack could not have the key. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY.
Must
"Must" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to
express necessity or strong recommendation, although native speakers prefer
the more flexible form "have to." "Must not" can be used to prohibit actions, but
this sounds very severe; speakers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as
"should not" or "ought not" to dissuade rather than prohibit.
Examples:
Examples:
Ought To
"Ought to" is used to advise or make recommendations. "Ought to" also
expresses assumption or expectation as well as strong probability, often with the
idea that something is deserved. "Ought not" (without "to") is used to advise
against doing something, although Americans prefer the less formal forms
"should not" or "had better not."
Examples:
• You ought to stop smoking. RECOMMENDATION
• Jim ought to get the promotion. IT IS EXPECTED BECAUSE HE DESERVES IT.
• This stock ought to increase in value. PROBABILITY
• Mark ought not drink so much. ADVICE AGAINST SOMETHING (NOTICE THERE IS NO "TO")
3. She ought to
receive the package
tonight.
Examples:
Shall
"Shall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences
with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall"
is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the
use of "shall" to describe future events often expresses inevitability or
predestination. "Shall" is much more commonly heard in British English than in
American English; Americans prefer to use other forms, although they do
sometimes use "shall" in suggestions or formalized language.
Examples:
shall Man shall explore the distant Man shall never give up
INEVITABILITY regions of the universe. the exploration of the
universe.
(British We shall overcome
form) oppression. He shall not be held
back.
Should
"Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It
can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.
Examples:
• You should focus more on your family and less on work. ADVICE
• I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. OBLIGATION
• By now, they should already be in Dubai. EXPECTATION
Examples:
Would
"Would" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves
as the past form of the modal verb "will." Additionally, "would" can indicate
repetition in the past.
Examples: